‘Vampyr’ casts you as a creature of the night with a conscience
Since we last heard about developer Dontnod’s vampire role-playing game, Vampyr, set against the first World War, the studio released and wrapped the excellent episodic Life is Strange. But seeing as how that project has wrapped for now it’s time to focus on the post-World-War-I tale of the macabre once more. Turns out that it’s an action role-playing game focusing on makeshift weapons and the protagonist’s newfound vampiric ways.
Source: European PlayStation Blog
Wayfindr gets Google grant to solve navigation for the blind
Wayfindr, the vision-impaired navigation solution originally conceived by multidisciplinary design studio Ustwo, is a step closer to becoming reality. After a pair of small-scale trials, the audio-based system is headed to London’s busy Euston station, which averages around 3.4 million visits per month. The pilot scheme uses Bluetooth beacons paired with regular smartphones to guide visually-impaired travellers around Euston’s complex web of interconnecting tunnels. But as exciting as the trial is for those involved, it’s a tiny fraction of what Wayfindr wants to achieve.
ICYMI: 7-D heart MRI, astronaut cups and tech tats
Today on In Case You Missed It: NASA just shipped the astronauts on the International Space Station a cup that will let them almost drink like earthlings. GE announced scanning tech that would reveal the intricacies of the heart far quicker than conventional MRIs. And temporary tats that can monitor health and beam the information right to a doctor are here, coming to sick little people or elderly folks someday. If you’ve ever been woken up a couple times a night in a hospital, so a nurse could loudly check your vitals, you know what a win these could be.
Yahoo attempts to take on Facebook with reimagined Messenger
Remember Yahoo Messenger? It used to be the instant messaging client of choice for many people (like myself) but even though it never really went away, it eventually fell by the wayside as social media and newer apps like Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp took over. Well, it’s trying to make a comeback. Yahoo announced today that it’s revealing an entirely new Messenger platform — on mobile, web and within Yahoo Mail — that has been rebuilt from the ground up to be faster, smarter and better than ever before.Slideshow-345489
[Deal] Save 60% on the BACtrack Mobile Smartphone Breathalyzer
If you’re over the age of 21, you’ve probably been in a situation that you weren’t 100% sure that you were capable of driving safely. Maybe you went out to dinner with some friends, and had a little too much, but weren’t really confident in being sober enough to drive. Today’s deal will help you figure out where your limit is and if you should just call a cab before drinking and driving.
The BACtrack Mobile Smartphone Breathalyzer is a portable breathalyzer that can be used with either your Android or iOS smartphones. It will quickly tell you what your Blood Alcohol Level is so that the decision can be made about whether you should drive or find an alternate means of getting home. Additionally, the results come back in real-time so there’s no having to worry about waiting any longer and the decision can be made in the moment.
- Input & save BAC results, including what you drank and where
- Receive accurate results due to internal air pump
- See real-time BAC results from other users across the globe
- Uses ZeroLine Technology to estimate how long until your BAC returns to 0.00%
- Easily share results via text message, social media, and more
- Live a healthier lifestyle by monitoring consumption
- Clearly view how your body processes alcohol
Something that’s cool about the BACtrack Breathalyzer is that it allows for users to input what you drank, where you were, and attach the BAC results to the event. This would allow you to have an idea of what your limit is, so that going forward you can adjust how much you drink when you’re out on the town.
Normally priced at about $200, you can jump on this deal over at the AndroidGuys Deals page for 60%. That brings the total price for the BACtrack Breathalyzer to about $70. 60% off is a whole lot of money off of something that could save you from some jail-time.
Drop us a line below and let us know what you think about this great deal, and whether you signed up for it or not. You can find this, and many other great tech bargains through our Deals page. Backed by StackCommerce, there are daily promos, giveaways, freebies, and much more!
AndroidGuys Deals: Get the BACtrack Breathalyzer for 60% off
The post [Deal] Save 60% on the BACtrack Mobile Smartphone Breathalyzer appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Authors Believe Apple’s Entry Into E-Book Market Wasn’t Anti-Competitive
A coalition of authors and well-known booksellers have come forth to back Apple in a petition to overturn a recent ruling that stated the company was liable in conspiring to fix the prices of electronic books when its iBooks store launched on the iPad in 2010 (via Cult of Mac).
Together, the Authors Guild, Authors United, the American Booksellers Association, and Barnes & Noble have filed a 37-page amicus brief that states Apple was in fact enhancing competition and benefiting its customers.
“We are pleased to lend our support in this matter, critical to anyone interested in a competitive and diverse literary marketplace,” said Mary Rasenberger, executive director of the Authors Guild, in a statement. “We fundamentally question the wisdom of the Second Circuit’s use of antitrust law to punish a business arrangement that demonstrably increased competition in the e-book marketplace.”
The brief falls in line with Apple’s petition of the Supreme Court to review the case this past October, after first being found guilty of conspiring to artificially inflate the prices of e-books back in 2013, when the case started. The amicus brief filed by the authors and booksellers backs up Apple’s attempts at overturning the ruling, stating that a positive outcome for the case is “critical to maintaining a healthy marketplace for the ideas and First Amendment-protected expression that authors and bookstores facilitate.”
The groups even mention Amazon as more of a “disruptive” force in the e-books market, with a “loss leader” strategy that led to domination over the digital bookselling marketplace. The groups use Amazon’s recent public battles with publishers like Hachette, where it essentially ceased selling any of their novels due to a price point disagreement, as a primary example. They also look at the market monopoly Amazon held before Apple entered with iBooks in 2010.
“With a 90% market share, nearly every customer who wanted to purchase an e-book had to do so through Amazon,” the brief states. “Amazon could exercise this power to suppress specific publishers, authors, or messages with which it disagreed, with impunity. It also could steer the culture toward the ideas it valued. Amazon controlled what e-books were promoted on its home page, what e-books were recommended to consumers, and what books appeared at the top of a consumer’s search results when she searched for e-books on the Amazon.com website.”
With no response yet from the Department of Justice regarding Apple’s filing for a review, the company still has an uncertain future in the two year-long case. All respondents have until January 4 to file a response in opposition to Apple’s petitioning of the Supreme Court, so the next leg of the case is just over a month away.
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New A9-Based 4-Inch iPhone Expected to Launch Mid-2016 With Colorful Metal Casing
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a research note corroborating rumors that Apple will release a new 4-inch iPhone next year, which he believes will resemble an upgraded iPhone 5s and launch in mid-2016.
While new model may not generate huge sales, Apple still has good reasons to launch. These are: (1) still-existing demand for 4-inch smartphones. We estimate 15-17mn 4-inch iPhones will be shipped in 2015. We estimate the new 4-inch model will account for 8-9% of total iPhone shipments in 2016F; (2) expected price of US$400-500, with the aim of penetrating emerging markets and consumers on smaller budgets; and (3) adoption of NFC will support Apple Pay, benefiting the ecosystem.
Kuo expects the new 4-inch iPhone to an A9 chip manufactured by both TSMC and Samsung, 2.5D cover glass, NFC for Apple Pay, metal casing with at least two to three color options, and identical camera specs to the iPhone 5s.
Kuo forecasted that full-year shipments of the new 4-inch iPhone will reach 20 million units, with production beginning in the first quarter of 2016. The research note said the new 4-inch iPhone could be priced at between $400 and $500 in the U.S., which would be $149 to $249 cheaper than the 16GB iPhone 6s.
The analyst also reaffirmed that the iPhone 6s may not outsell the iPhone 6, with a possible 30%-40% decline in quarter-over-quarter shipments, based on recently slowed orders within the supply chain. Kuo believes the new 4-inch iPhone could help the slowdown for suppliers.
Recently slowed iPhone 6s orders validates our prediction six months ago that the model may not outsell iPhone 6, potentially resulting in the supply chain returning to a normal cycle starting 1Q16F, and with shipments declining 30-40% QoQ. While the new 4-inch iPhone may not catalyze shipments, it should still help mitigate slow seasonality for suppliers and a negative impact on share performance. This would also in turn raise investor awareness of the Apple supply chain.
Kuo added the iPhone 7 will enter mass production in the second quarter of fiscal 2016.
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Vivo X6 unboxing and first look!
You may or may not have heard of Vivo, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer that produces a wide range of smartphones. They are quite in demand around various markets around the world, but us in the Western markets tend to be oblivious of their existence. But that will probably change in the short term, as Vivo gains more recognition in international markets.
Today I am here to show you something pretty cool. It’s the Vivo X6.
This specific smartphone happens to be a pretty big deal for the company, as they want to make it an international handset. But does it have what it takes to take on the whole world? We will need a full review to answer that, but for now, let’s give you our first look and quick impressions on the Vivo X6.
What’s in the box?
The box contains all that technical literature none of us will ever really read, along with a charger, USB cable and a pair of headphones (which is always nice to have). It’s also great to see that a case is included in the package. Oh, and of course, the actual Vivo X6 is in there as well.
Design and build quality
Take a quick look at the Vivo X6 and you will probably think it looks much like another well-known phone. That said, the device does look great and is super slim, measuring in at only 6.56 mm. The phone feels very well-made and premium, thanks to that metal build. Buttons are solid, but do keep in mind that the phone uses capacitive buttons on the front, something you may love or hate.
Specs and hardware
Face the Vivo X6 and you will be looking right into a 5.2-inch 1080p Super AMOLED panel. Sure, it’s lacking that QHD resolution, but I must say this display is very good. It looks beautiful and has great viewing angles. I really have nothing to complain about here.
See also: AMOLED vs LCD – What is the difference?
Other specs are up to par with capable phones out there. Pushing this device is the MediaTek 6752 processor and 4 GB of RAM, a setup that definitely doesn’t disappoint. The phone is a pleasure to use, as the processing power and memory availability really do compliment each other very well.
It’s in other areas where the Vivo X6 really stands out, though. I happen to love the fingerprint reader on the back. Judging on my initial usage, it runs very well. Unlocking your device is fast and convenient, especially if you are a fan of the back placement.
Another feature I happen to be fond of is the increased charging speed, which is accomplished thanks to its two chips and dual-patch charge circuits. All in all, this should mean much faster charging… but how fast? My first test charges where done in two countries: the UK and China. During the former I managed to get a 55% increase in 30 minutes, while I got a 40% increase in China when plugged in for the same amount of time.
Software
On the software side, we have Vivo’s Funtouch OS, which happens to be a really heavy skin. Life seems to be very different in China, as are their Android software skins, so you will have to make of it what you will. One downside is that there are no Google services, but Vivo did add its own suite of apps to replace those coming from Mountain View.
The general aesthetic is very much like iOS, but Vivo did manage to add in some cool functions. You can do split screen, saving screen shots with voice recordings, and even smart motion actions (gestures). There’s a whole host of cool stuff here.
Camera
Lastly, we have a f/2.2 13 MP camera, which Vivo says is super fast. And I have to agree, this thing is pretty quick. Pictures are a pleasure to take, and it’s nice that you can use the fingerprint sensor as a shutter release. The software is nice too, allowing for a full set of manual controls, which includes the ability to control focus (just in case you want to get selective).
See also: 15 best camera apps for Android
Gallery
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margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
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margin-left: 0;
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Wrapping up
There are certainly some downsides. I would have liked to see USB Type-C included. There’s also only a single speaker on the bottom, but that is something very commonly seen.
Overall, I see this phone being a good contender in today’s market. There are some mighty things in here, coming from a company that definitely knows what it’s doing. I am excited to see where they take this.
The Vivo X6 will initially be available in Southeast Asia for a price that should be around $400. Of course, more details are to come and we will continue playing around with the phone. Keep it tuned to Android Authority for more details. Until next time, guys!
Steve Ballmer: Windows phones need “to run Android apps”
At Microsoft’s annual shareholder’s meeting held earlier today in Bellevue, Washington, the company’s former CEO, Steve Ballmer, had a rather critical take on the business at hand: “bullshit.” The terse tiding was triggered due to the fact MS is not revealing profit margins and sales for its cloud and hardware units, instead reporting annualized revenue run rate. Mr. Ballmer also found contentious another issue: the fact that Windows phones don’t run Android apps.
As Bloomberg explains it:
Ballmer also criticized [current CEO Satya] Nadella’s answer to an audience member questioning the lack of key apps, like one for Starbucks, on the company’s Windows Phone. Nadella responded by citing the company’s plan to appeal to Windows developers by allowing them to write universal applications that work on computers, phones and tablets, targeting a larger array of devices than just Microsoft’s handsets that have just a single-digit share of the mobile market.
“That won’t work,” Ballmer commented as Nadella spoke. Instead, the company needs to enable Windows Phones “to run Android apps,” he said.
Those that follow the Windows mobile scene may be aware that Microsoft had announced Project Astoria this past April. The aim was, simply put, to allow Android applications to run on Windows Phone. In recent weeks however, it has been reported that the project has been delayed, with some speculating it has been canceled outright.
This coming February will mark the second anniversary of Mr. Ballmer’s retirement, though based on his strong feeling about support for Android apps, it’s clear he is not so pleased with the way things are going. At the very least it might add to support for the belief that his retirement was forced. Clearly he is not under the impression that universal applications, fostered by Windows 10’s Continuum, will solve the problem at hand.
Waxing on Windows
Some years ago, it appeared as if Microsoft had gained a legitimate point of leverage in the mobile phone marketplace. In the post-Windows Mobile 6.X era, it was perhaps the company’s partnership with Nokia – once the world’s largest mobile phone vendor – that made people take notice. The fact that Samsung, HTC, LG, and various other OEMs were making Windows Phone 7 devices was good, but having Espoo seemed as good as gold.
By the time Windows Phone 8 was in full swing, most OEMs had abandoned Microsoft, though HTC did make a breif but notable return when it released a variant of its One M8 late last year. Now that Nokia’s mobile division is no more and Microsoft is virtually the only one supporting Windows Phone at the moment, the challenges faced are even greater.
While the platform did see some growth in the third quarter of this year, the global market share is at just 1.6% during the same period.
Kantar WorldPanel (via GSM Arena)
Citing preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, wmpoweruser.com reported that:
Windows Phones however…[is] seeing their lowest shipments since 2012, only hitting 5.8 million, and not enough to deserve a mention by the IDC.
Microsoft has said this was in line with their expectations and strategy, but at only 1.6% market share it is clear Windows phones will now only succeed or fail as part of the Windows 10 universal app ecosystem, as such low numbers are not attractive enough to sustain an independent application market.
The following table from IDC highlights the issue at hand:
MIA: Windows Phone (Microsoft) is nowhere to be seen in the latest data from IDC.
Huawei, which sits at the third spot on the above list, has been quite open about its feelings towards Windows Phone.
Forward to the future
To be fair, that Windows Phone market share is lower than ever may very well have to do with the fact that, as of Q3 2015, no phones running Windows Phone 10 had yet been released. Given the hardware requirements necessary to run Continuum, as well as the fact it requires Windows 10 to begin with, it’s possible that interested users were simply holding off purchases until the time came.
The time, arguably, is now, as Microsoft has released the Lumia 950 and 950 XL and with them, Windows Phone 10. The idea that users will be able to run Windows 10 applications across all Microsoft platforms including Xbox One, is likely to appeal to a tangible segment of the population, be it for business use or home. Still, given the shortage of new hardware – and the fact that the Lumia 950 is quite an expensive proposition – there are still limited opportunities for immediate and explosive growth.
Likewise, in China, Xiaomi has taken an interest in Windows Phone 10, and so too has Japan, where three companies are now have or are going to be manufacturing hardware. Japan in particular is a curious consideration given that just one Windows Phone 7 device released, and until this past June, not a single Windows Phone 8 product had. Even then, the sole WP8.1 device was released factory unlocked and therefore not even a carrier offering despite last year’s FX0, a Firefox OS phone made by LG.
While the software situation has improved over the years, the fact that apps from companies like Starbucks are missing means that convenience still comes at a cost.
At the moment, the more pressing issue is that which Mr. Ballmer himself found to be upsetting: the lack of apps. Windows Phone has consistently been chastised for its lack of apps, and while the situation has improved over the years, the fact that software like Starbucks’s mobile app is missing means that convenience still comes at a cost. It now remains to be seen as to how fast the mobile situation can improve for Microsoft, especially as competition from Android and low price hardware has never been keener and even BlackBerry has entered the Android market.
Wrap Up
It will be quite interesting to see how Windows Phone 10 fares in the next few quarters, either with or without Android app support. One thing that is not likely to happen though, is a major point for profit given that Apple all but has 95% of them. Support for Android however, could ultimately help businesses and app developers who would get access to a new platform and its customers.
We want to hear what you think. Are you a Windows fan? Are you upset by the lack of Android apps, or does the future look fantastic with the promise of cross-platform continuum? Feel free to leave your comments below and share your opinion.
Video: the science behind camera sensors
If you have ever wondered how a modern camera sensor takes the light from a scene and converts it into a digital picture, then you should definitely check out this informative video (above) from the Filmmaker IQ YouTube channel.
The video covers all the fundamental concepts. Everything from the basics of how film photography started out, a beginner’s guide to semiconductors and photodiodes, all the way through to how CMOS image sensors are designed and work. If you love your science, there are some pretty interesting insights into a technology that we all use so regularly.
Time to stick the kettle on, sit back and learn something new.
Extra camera goodness: Blind Camera Shootout – the winner is…
AIVAnet 